- Pre-approval training (Skills to Foster) is mandatory for all prospective carers
- Ongoing training of 6–10 days/year is expected for approved carers
- Specialist training (PACE, DDP, trauma) is often funded by your agency
- Training counts toward your career progression and potential pay increases
- All training is free for foster carers — funded by your agency
Fostering agencies are required by law to ensure their foster carers receive appropriate training. Training is not a bureaucratic hurdle — it equips you to do a difficult job better. Most carers find training valuable, not burdensome.
Pre-Approval: Skills to Foster
Before you can be approved as a foster carer, you must complete preparatory training. The most widely used programme in the UK is Skills to Foster, developed by the Fostering Network. It covers what fostering involves (honest, unvarnished), the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences, safe caring and safeguarding, contact with birth families, working with professionals, and the legal framework of care.
Skills to Foster is typically delivered over 3 days. It is free for prospective carers and provided by your agency.
Specialist Training Streams
- PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) — therapeutic parenting approach
- DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) — attachment-informed practice
- NVR (Non-Violent Resistance) — for carers of children with violent behaviour
- Child sexual exploitation awareness
- Substance misuse and foetal alcohol spectrum
- UASC-specific cultural awareness
Training and Pay Progression
Many agencies link training completion to pay progression — carers who complete specified training levels move to higher payment bands. This creates a genuine career pathway in fostering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is training paid?
Training itself is free — funded by your agency. You do not typically receive additional payment for attending, though some agencies offer a small attendance allowance.
What if I cannot attend training due to placement commitments?
Your agency should accommodate this. If you have a baby or very young child in placement, attending multi-day training may not be possible. Most agencies are flexible.
Can I transfer training credits between agencies?
Some training is nationally recognised and transferable. Evidence of completed training is always a positive when moving between agencies.